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Oya Hazer & M. Serhat Öztürk
Introduction
Recently, various studies on the subject of family have shown that families are more
likely to focus on the importance of intergenerational solidarity (Glazer, 1990, Abel, 1991,
Stoller, 1983, Sussman, 1991, Netzer, 1994, Bengtson, 2001, Hazer, 2011, 2012; Baran
and Çoban, 2012; Kalaycıoğlu, 2012).
While some studies determine that commitment, closeness and positive attitude of youth
to parent/grandparent have and important effect on the welfare of youth, again the close-
ness and commitment towards parent/grandparent are an important factor in reducing
the disagreements between young and elder generations (Attar-Schwartz et al., 2009;
Ruiz and Silverstein, 2007; Werner and Smith, 1982).
One of the most comprehensive models for describing intergenerational solidarity is the
generational solidarity model, developed by Bengtson and Roberts (1991), which ad-
dressed six dimensions, use structural, emotional, relational, conventional, functional and
normative solidarity. In this model, normative solidarity is defined as the degree of com-
mitment to family responsibilities and the fulfillment of obligations, the importance given
to family and generational roles, and the degree of commitment to responsibilities as
children (Bengtson and Roberts, 1991).
Intergenerational Normative Solidarity in Families
The norms in the family are social rules or anticipations that guide behavior and attitudes
among family members. These culturally defined attitudes and behaviors are revealed by
the sense of necessity to remove the differences between individuals in society (Finley et
al., 1988; Mangen and Westbrook, 1988; Rossi and Rossi, 1990).
There are different views on intergenerational normative solidarity, and in general there is
no common approach to this area (Altonji, Hayashi, and Kolitoff, 1995).
In terms of intergenerational family solidarity, Mengen and Westbrook (1988) conceptu-
alize normative solidarity based on two components: (1) responsibilities and obligations
for children, and (2) degree of intergenerational consensus on the expectations and obli-
gations of children.
Normative solidarity is also based on early childhood experiences, such as functional
and relational solidarity (Rossi and Rossi, 1990). The children who are exposed to family
responsibilities and normative constraints adopt their behaviors afterwards and those be-
haviors shaped by these obligations over time cause these normative solidarity attitudes
to continue to the present time (Rossi and Rossi, 1990). In addition, these normative soli-
darity attitudes affect the unity, support between invididuals and sharing and exchange of
resources (Bengtson and Roberts, 1991; Roberts and Bengtson, 1990; Rossi and Rossi,
1990).
